North Hertfordshire District Council, like all other planning authorities, are required to have a Local Plan.

Since 1996, the NHDC’s planning policies were detailed the District Local Plan No. 2 with Alterations, but these policies expired in 2007. Special permission was given by the Secretary of State to save 33 of the policies beyond that date. Relevant NHDC information and documents can be seen here.

NHDC began consultations on elements of the Local Plan some time ago and the process is still ongoing. It is important to Pirton for many reasons:

The Local Plan sets the basic ‘rules’ against which all planning development and applications are judged.

It will include policies, references and sites that specifically relate to Pirton.

If Pirton produces a Neighbourhood Plan then it cannot conflict with the Local Plan, only build upon it.

So for residents and the community to get the policies they want you must start by influencing the Local Plan and that means getting involved in any related consultation including, perhaps especially with Pirton’s Neighbourhood Plan.